Window tinting advice?

[ricrawling]

http://www.llumar.com/pdf/en/LLumarAutoSpecsUS.pdf

Here is the link for the spec page from Llumar Tint. It is an almost "clear" tint for the windshield. It definitely helped cut down on the heat and glare coming thru the front windshield.

 

[JazzmanPBC]

Just had my 2011 Genesis 3.8 tinted - LLumar FormulaOne
Pinnacle (ceramic)
Boca Raton $286.20 - Looks Great - Now we are solar heat resistant!

 

[Slider]

I'm still scoping out places here in the Houston area for my tinting job.

Turns out there's only one Huper Optik dealer in the city (even though they're HQ is here!), and I'm having a hard time reaching them to get a price quote.

But I am looking at a 3M Solar Gard film that another place is running a sale on for $200.

And there's a Global film too; Global HP? Don't know if anyone's familiar with this or not, but would welcome comments/input.

 

[Mark_888]

I'm still scoping out places here in the Houston area for my tinting job.

Turns out there's only one Huper Optik dealer in the city (even though they're HQ is here!), and I'm having a hard time reaching them to get a price quote.

But I am looking at a 3M Solar Gard film that another place is running a sale on for $200.

And there's a Global film too; Global HP? Don't know if anyone's familiar with this or not, but would welcome comments/input.

Many tint films such as Huper Optik are primarily made for commercial buildings. That's why their USA HQ is in Houston (actually a German company). Huper Optik films are used for vehicles, but they are a bit harder to install than most other films because of their thickness (which makes it harder to use on even slightly curved auto glass).

If you want something comparable (ceramic film) to Huper Optik, try Formula One Pinnacle.
http://www.formulaone.com
If you can't find a Formula One dealer near you, try a Llumar ceramic film (same company), which may in fact carry Formula One and Llumar in some cases:
http://www.llumar.com

In a climate like Houston, you don't want to mess with anything other than a ceramic or metallic. But metallic films can interfere with radio and cell phone reception, so ceramic is best.

 

[Gurkha]

But metallic films can interfere with radio and cell phone reception, so ceramic is best.

If you avoid putting metallic on the back glass where the AM antenna is built in there should be no issues for radio reception. Metallic is okay for the side glass, front and back.
Depending on your home market, ceramic may be priced way above metallics.
I've never had a cell phone issue with metallic films. AM reception is another story though.

 

[Mark_888]

If you avoid putting metallic on the back glass where the AM antenna is built in there should be no issues for radio reception. Metallic is okay for the side glass, front and back.
Depending on your home market, ceramic may be priced way above metallics.
I've never had a cell phone issue with metallic films. AM reception is another story though.

I was quoted a price for metallic on side windows with ceramic on rear, and it was only about $35 more for ceraminc all the way around.

 

[Gurkha]

I was quoted a price for metallic on side windows with ceramic on rear, and it was only about $35 more for ceraminc all the way around.

Well then, I guess it depends on your market and installer.
In my case it was almost double the price to go ceramic all around compared to metallic.
Ended up putting regular dye film on the back glass, metallic on the rest. Good thing I don't live in a hot climate.

 

[Mark_888]

Well then, I guess it depends on your market and installer.
In my case it was almost double the price to go ceramic all around compared to metallic.
Ended up putting regular dye film on the back glass, metallic on the rest. Good thing I don't live in a hot climate.

Maybe they were quoting price for Huper Optik, which can be expensive for film, and they usually want a lot more for installation due to difficulty of installing that brand on even slightly curved glass.

 

[iamrelaxed]

I just had my 2011 Black/Cashmere Gen 4.6 tinted in Stafford, TX, just outside of Houston. It was done at www.sunshieldwindowtint.com. They put in Huper Optik "Drei" in the the sides and rear. Cost was $500.00 (cash price) and overall they did a good job. The cash price for the Huper Optik Ceramic 30 on the same windows would have been $400. If I leave the moon roof in the tilted up position, the car is not too bad when I get in it. This is even with 100 degree heat in full sun!

 

[Slider]

I just had my 2011 Black/Cashmere Gen 4.6 tinted in Stafford, TX, just outside of Houston. It was done at www.sunshieldwindowtint.com. They put in Huper Optik "Drei" in the the sides and rear. Cost was $500.00 (cash price) and overall they did a good job. The cash price for the Huper Optik Ceramic 30 on the same windows would have been $400. If I leave the moon roof in the tilted up position, the car is not too bad when I get in it. This is even with 100 degree heat in full sun!

i was thinking about going here too.... Instead, I think I'm doing the Formula One Houston, the Pinnacle film.

It's ceramic based, has good heat reflectivity, all UV/IR protection, and $400, so a little more affordable than the Huper Optik.

But given the heat here, I am dying to get this done!

______________________________

Help support this site so it can continue supporting you!

 

[upsbroke]

What ever you choose- make sure there's a nationwide lifetime warranty. Some no name brand warranty doesn't do you any good if you've moved.
Also- about the lifetime warranty. I had my 98 VW done when new and a year ago- my Llumar lifetime tint started to peel on the edge of the driver's door.I figured I'd go in and they'd charge me half price to replace the offending door's tint. They redid the whole car at no charge. I'm a believer in "lifetime tint" now!

 

[Slider]

Indeed--lifetime warranty is important.

I got a nice envelope with a reference card to the job #. Love the job so far...ended up going 30% all around and it's setting up fine.

Incidentally, while I was in there, they had a new black Equus in there as well, doing tint and an invisible paint shield. Man, that thing is a beast.

 

[iamrelaxed]

Slider,

Who did you use for the tinting?

 

[upsbroke]

Got mine done today at Florida legal limit with Suntek Carbon Series. Cost was $20 over the price of metalllic Llumar. Both have lifetime warranty. $219

 

[Mark_888]

Slider,

Who did you use for the tinting?

For Houston (or equivalent) I would strongly recommend a high end ceramic for maximum heat rejection. Carbon or dyed films tend to make the windows darker, but do not reflect as much heat as ceramic or metallic. The only problem with metallic is that it can block radio reception.

 

[Slider]

Slider,

Who did you use for the tinting?

I went to the Formula One place... I'll post the name and address later as I don't have it on me.

 

[Mark_888]

I went to the Formula One place... I'll post the name and address later as I don't have it on me.

Speaking of Formula One, their Pinnacle brand ceramic tint film is excellent (I have it on my Genesis, as do quite a few others in this forum).

 

[Slider]

Speaking of Formula One, their Pinnacle brand ceramic tint film is excellent (I have it on my Genesis, as do quite a few others in this forum).

That's he film I got...30% all around.

 

[Gen0814]

A few questions.

1. Can you recommend good installer in Maryland (ceramic tint)?
2. If tint is installed according to state's legal limit, and one is traveling through another state where this tint is illegal would police give a ticket in this case?

 

[JMintzer]

A few questions.

1. Can you recommend good installer in Maryland (ceramic tint)?
2. If tint is installed according to state's legal limit, and one is traveling through another state where this tint is illegal would police give a ticket in this case?

Where in MD?

I used Driven Dynamics http://www.drivendynamics.com/, in Rockville.

I was very happy with their pricing and service. I had a small bubble on one of the passenger windows and they replaced the window tinting, no questions asked.


Jamie